ACA Online Training/Corrections Online Training Collaborative (COTC)

COTC National Advisory Board Meeting

ACA’s partner, Essential Learning, hosted the COTC National Advisory Board meeting in San Diego on Feb. 16, 2012. Essential Learning staff provided a review of Elevate™, COTC’s learning management system operated by Essential Learning; the new COTC course libraries; the COTC crosswalks for ACA standards, which match courses to particular standards within the standards manuals; the retail site upgrades; and the process of creating a course. A presentation on potential supervisory management training and topics was also given. The members engaged in a large group discussion reconciling the proposed training in this area with current trends and needs in the field. The members then broke into two major groups, representing adult corrections/juvenile services and community corrections, to discuss the current state of each discipline and key staff training needs. A brief presentation was given on the use of social media and its value to training, followed by a review of the board’s own social media site on Essential Learning Connect. 

ACA’s Online Training Store: New Features

ACA’s newly-designed retail site will be unveiled soon. In the meantime, ACA members can benefit from many exciting new features that have already been implemented. Organizations can now purchase courses in volume directly through the store. The ordering process is simple and enables customers to manage their account and assign courses to staff. Individuals can centralize and manage their training, including uploading certificates from other training programs. Customer service is now available through live chat, as well as by email or phone.

To receive the appropriate discount code, ACA members and accredited facilities may contact Diane Geiman, administrator, ACA/COTC Online Training, at dianeg@aca.org. The subject line should read “Member Discount: COTC.” An organization number or an individual member number must be included within the email.

New Courses Added to the Libraries

Many new courses have been added to our libraries, including:

•    Strategies for Reducing Suicides in Jails;
•    Enhancing Strategies for Hardcore Drunk Drivers;
•    Facilitating Offender Success with Effective Case Planning;
•    Medication Administration in Corrections: Part One;
•    Medication Administration in Corrections: Part Two;
•    The Foundations and Fundamentals of Gangs and Gang Membership;
•    Using Assessment Tools;
•    Legal Issues: Parts 1-4; and
•    Offender Rights: Parts 1-5.

For course descriptions and more information, visit the Online Training Store at www.aca.cequick.com. To schedule a free Web demo to learn about purchasing options for organizations, contact Diane Geiman, administrator, ACA/COTC Online Training at dianeg@aca.org.

Publications Available From ACA

Jails: An ACA Reader

Ten major subject areas are covered in 29 succinct and easy-to-read essays. They include training and management issues, future concerns, technology, security, health care and reentry. Many of the articles were originally featured in Corrections Today, ACA’s bimonthly members-only magazine, or in Correctional Health Today, the peer-reviewed journal of the association’s Healthcare Professional Interest Section. Photos were provided by the Alexandria (Va.) Jail. This is a useful book for staff training, and for courses in corrections. (2011, 240 pages, 978-56991-324-6)

#598            

             • ACA members $16

             • Nonmembers $20              

Juvenile Offenders with Mental Health Disorders: Who Are They and What Do We Do with Them?, Second Edition

By Lisa Boesky, Ph.D.

This book is a guide for professionals working with juvenile offenders with mental health problems. Regardless of whether you are an officer, administrator, mental health counselor, probation or parole officer, nurse, or anyone else working with these offenders, this book is for you. It provides clear explanations, examples and suggested strategies for dealing with youths with major mental health issues. Topics discussed include: diagnosis of mental health disorders, depression; bipolar disorder; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, substance abuse disorders, suicidal behavior; self-injurious behavior; post-traumatic stress disorder; psychosis; screening and assessment; treatments; and more. Completely indexed to enable readers to find quick information on problems they are facing. (2011, 352 pages, 978-1-56991-312-3)

#608                     

• ACA members $36

• Nonmembers $45    

2011 Directory of Adult and Juvenile Correctional Departments, Institutions, Agencies, and Probation and Parole Authorities

Bigger and better than ever, ACA’s 2011 Directory is where you will find the most current contacts and information on U.S., state, federal and territorial correctional facilities, plus the  Canadian federal correctional system. Also included are correctional facilities for U.S. military, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Marshalls Service, plus a list of correctional unions. Each entry includes names, mailing addresses, email addresses, and telephone and fax numbers for the wardens and administrators of adult and juvenile correctional departments, institutions, programs, and probation and parole/aftercare services — more than 6,000 in all. This version includes an alphabetical facility locator and personnel locator to aid in finding staff. Institution/facility listings include the year opened, capacity, average daily population, security level, offender type, cost of care, and number of employees. More than 40 pages of statistical summaries show capital expenditures and operating budgets, staff, populations, programs and services, and much more. This edition includes top-10 lists, as well as websites. (July 2011, approx. 1,000 pages, 978-1-56991-325-3)

Item #686       

• Nonmembers $145         

• ACA members $126

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